TV crime shows spark boom in â€˜duffâ€™ university forensic courses

TV crime shows spark boom in â€˜duffâ€™ university forensic courses

A LEADING police scientist has claimed universities are promoting forensic science courses to meet demand from students inspired by TV crime series just to put â€œbums on seatsâ€. Jim Fraser swaps police fieldwork for teaching and research this week when he joins the University of Strathclyde as head of their world-leading forensic science unit. He said a public interest in â€œgoreâ€, fuelled by TV shows such as Silent Witness and CSI, had made forensics courses hip. More than 53 UK higher education institutions offer over 300 courses with â€œforensicâ€ in the title. But Fraser, currently head of forensic investigation at Kent Police, said many universities were offering courses which were of little use .